Once again Drake March Madness presence is a reality. Conference tournament time can be a perfect appetizer for the main course which is the NCAA Tournament.
For teams that are on the bubble, conference tournaments present the chance to get into the NCAA Tournament without having to wait for Selection Sunday to roll around.
Their first challenge to face in the March Madness bracket after Selection Sunday are the Washington State Cougars, the no. 7 seed. Bet on Drake Bulldogs with ClutchBuzz below.
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That is exactly what happened for the Drake Bulldogs. They are officially in the field of 68 for the second year in a row and the third in four years overall. They will be the 3rd team from Iowa in the tournament, together with the Iowa State Cyclones, who are currently no. 7 in the NCAA rankings and the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Letโs take a look at how Drake got here and what their prospects are heading into the tournament this season.
Ticket Punched
Conference tournaments present even footing for everyone in their respective conferences. It is a chance to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, the singular goal that every team in college basketball strives to achieve.
Drake Bulldogs, seeded second in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, managed to take down the entire bracket. They faced top-seed basketball team Indiana State in the final at the Enterprise Center. The Bulldogs, now 28-6, racked up a big lead thanks to a 22-4 run in the first half. They were up by as many as 14 at one point in the first half.
The Bulldogs had to survive a major flurry from Indiana State in the second half in order to hang on. When all was said and done, the Bulldogs captured the conference tournament crown with an 84-80 win, earning themselves a third trip to the NCAA Tournament in four years.
๐๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ#DrakeALLIN#DSMHometownTeam pic.twitter.com/6buZgwSeHm
— Drake Basketball (@DrakeBulldogsMB) March 10, 2024
Where Will Drake March Madness Be Seeded?
We wonโt know for sure what will happen until Selection Sunday has taken place. It is coming up after the conclusion of conference tournament play, every pick being made on Sunday, March 17 (St. Patrickโs Day, at that).
That said, many of the top pundits are confident about where the Bulldogs will land. It is anticipated that they will end up as a No. 10 seed. They would then earn a first-round matchup in Salt Lake City against another Bulldog, this one from Gonzaga. Most major pundits have them as a No. 7 seed in that same bracket.
While battling Gonzaga would be tough enough, it is the prospect of what awaits after that which remains the biggest challenge. They could face a No. 2 seed like Arizona or North Carolina in the round of 32, as daunting a task as anyone could ask for.
There is also the distinct possibility that they could wind up being a No. 11 seed as well. Based on projections, they could wind up seeing a red-hot Clemson Tigers team as the No. 6 seed. Should they win, there is a very good chance that they could face longtime Missouri Valley Conference foe Creighton, who is expected to land a No. 3 seed in the bracket.
๐๐๐ค๐ง๐๐ง, ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง, ๐๐๐๐๐๐@atinwrightt #DrakeALLIN#DSMHometownTeam pic.twitter.com/AQ94Qet2Y7
— Drake Basketball (@DrakeBulldogsMB) March 12, 2024
What Are Drake March Madness Prospects?
The landscape has changed exponentially since the last time the Bulldogs won an NCAA Tournament game. That came back in the early 1970s, when they made the NCAA Regional Final. Since that 1970-71 season, they have only made the tournament three times, all of which ended in first-round losses.
They have made the tournament three times now since 2020 but both of their prior appearances were lower seeds (No. 11 in 2021, No. 12 in 2023) and both resulted in first-round losses. So, what are the odds they can make noise going forward?
Getting a team like Gonzaga in the first round is a tough draw. They arenโt the same national powerhouse they have been in recent years, but they have a pedigree that Drake canโt hope to match. Still, this is March Madness, and anything can happen. After all, this is the time for Cinderella stories.
It isnโt out of the realm of possibility to think that the surprising Bulldogs (Drake) could come out of this one with this win. That said, things presumably get a lot tougher after that. Last year, top seeds were dropping left and right, which is an ideal scenario for a program like Drake.
That canโt happen every year, however, so it has to be assumed that the bracket will be a tough one for Drake March Madness prospects.
Here come the DDDAAWWWGGGSSS for the Bulldog walk here at Ballpark Village. Morale is highโฆVibes are up @DrakeBulldogsMB #DSMHometownTeam pic.twitter.com/fdrLI9JmoR
— Sean Roberts (@Sean23Roberts) March 9, 2024
Conclusion
For now, celebrations are due. The Bulldogs have found their way back into the NCAA Tournament and will do so as the reigning Missouri Valley Conference champion. Thatโs good enough for now, but it wonโt take long to look ahead to Selection Sunday and the task of the first round.
Though we wonโt know for certain until all the picks are in, it seems like Gonzaga awaits them in the first round. Though this isnโt the Gonzaga of recent years, it is still a daunting task. But this time of year is daunting for everyone and the Bulldogs know what waits for them. For now, that prospect is exciting and full of potential.
ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 10: Drake players hold the “Ticket Punched’ placard after winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship game between the Indiana State Sycamore and the Drake Bulldogs on March 10, 2024, at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
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